Playwright Nick Payne set an astronomically high standard with last year’s award-winning quantum-physics romcom Constellations, but his follow-up,The Same Deep Water As Me, a jocular dig at the ‘no win, no fees’ claims culture, is disappointingly slight in comparison.

Inspired by the recent increase in sham compensation appeals, Payne creates a believable situation in which such fraud is overwhelmingly tempting for struggling personal injury solicitor Andrew (solid Daniel Mays), who moved back to his home town of Luton after his career stalled in London.

His partner in crime is wide-boy school friend Kevin (played to almost pantomime comic effect by Marc Wootton), who enlists a ragtag band of accomplices, including his wife – and Andrew’s school crush – Jennifer (soulful Niky Wardley). Their scheme operates successfully under the nose of Andrew’s boss Barry (underused Nigel Lindsay), until one of their big-brand targets fights back.